Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 20, 2025
First Reading: Isaiah 7.10-14; 8.10d
10Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz,11"Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven."12But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test."13And he said, "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also?14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Psalm 24
1The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,2for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.3Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?4He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.5He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.6Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah7Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.8Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle!9Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.10Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah
Gospel: Luke 1.26-38
26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.28And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!"29But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.30And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."34And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?"35And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy--the Son of God.36And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.37For nothing will be impossible with God."38And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
Sermon
The ancient prophecy of Isaiah speaks to us of King Ahaz, who, in a moment of national crisis, refused God's offer of a sign, claiming he would not tempt the Lord. Yet, God, in His divine wisdom, insists on providing one anyway: "Behold, a virgin will conceive, and she will give birth to a son, and his name will be called Immanuel." This powerful assurance, that "God is with us" and all human plans against His will are destined to fail, finds its profound fulfillment in the Gospel. There, the Angel Gabriel is sent to Mary, a virgin, announcing that she will conceive a son by the Holy Spirit, who will be called Jesus, the Son of the Most High, destined to reign eternally on David's throne. These two readings are deeply connected, for Luke reveals the very moment Isaiah's incredible prophecy began to unfold, showing us how God's promise of "Immanuel" would be perfectly embodied in the Incarnation of Jesus Christ through Mary.
The difference in response between King Ahaz and Mary offers us a poignant reflection. Ahaz, burdened by fear and self-reliance, chose to trust his own political schemes rather than God's direct intervention. Mary, though initially troubled and questioning how such a thing could be, ultimately surrendered to God's extraordinary and incomprehensible plan with profound humility and faith. We, too, often face moments in life where we are tempted to rely solely on our own understanding, our own strength, and human solutions, rather than opening our hearts fully to God's divine guidance. Mary's "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word" reminds us that "no word will be impossible with God." Her faithful response becomes a model for our own lives, inviting us to embrace God's often unexpected will, knowing that He is truly Immanuel, always with us, ready to accomplish what seems impossible through our humble trust.